Paradise Strings, LLC

Joan began her studies in Iowa at the age of 5 as a Suzuki violin student. She received a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Northern Iowa and was an eight-year member of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of Iowa. She received her Master's Degree in Music Performance from Southern Illinois University where she studied with John Kendall. In 1991, Joan moved to Bermuda and joined the faculty of the Bermuda Conservatory of Music. While there, Joan performed on many faculty recitals as soloist and in ensemble groups. She was also a member of the Pembroke Players String Quartet, the Dayelsford Sinfonia, and performed under the baton of Yehudi Menuhin. Since moving to Naples in 2003, Joan has been teaching violin as well as playing with the Voices of Naples, Punta Gorda Symphony, and performing as a strolling violinist.

A native Californian, Susan completed studies of music and literature at Harvard University (B.A. magna cum laude) and a fellowship year at Indiana University, Bloomington (I.U. Fellow), prior to her concert exam (Performance Degree) at the Conservatory of Music in Freiburg, Germany. As first violinist of the Fandango Quintet, she received first prize at the International Chamber Music Competition Schweinfurt, Bavaria, and performed as soloist with the Heidelberg Chamber Orchestra in concert tours throughout Europe prior to her permanent engagement as first violinist with the Staatstheater Orchestra in Darmstadt, Germany. During the near-decade that followed she also performed regularly with the Wiesbaden Johann-Strauss Orchestra, the Salon Ensemble Soiree, and the German Chamber Orchestra in concert tours throughout Europe and Japan. After a 1999 millennium-move back to the U.S., Susan has continued to perform locally with Anton’s Ensemble Soiree, Opera Naples, the Southwest Florida Symphony, and Classical Chamber Concerts, among others. She also received her law degree summa cum laude from the Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University in 2004 and is a practicing Florida Bar Board Certified Trusts and Estates attorney with Cohen & Grigsby, P.C. in Naples, Florida.

Natalie Stewart, harpist, grew up in a very musical household, and has been playing and performing since she was 4 years old. In addition to harp, Natalie plays violin, guitar, ukulele, piano, and voice. She has won competitions on the harp, and has performed on violin and harp in numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the Florida Allstate Orchestra, the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and the Naples Harp Ensemble. Natalie performed with the Stewart Strings Ensemble for many years and participated in international tours to Bermuda, Canada, and Europe.